Gillibrand says she has discussed U.S. Senate seat with Governor Paterson

Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand today talked candidly about her interest in replacing Hillary Clinton in the U.S. Senate.

She told me in a satellite interview from Washington, D.C. that she does consider herself a candidate, and has discussed the job with Governor David Paterson.

It will be up to Governor Paterson to appoint a replacement once Senator Clinton is confirmed as Secretary of State. The confirmation vote in the U.S. Senate is expected to come in just a matter of days.

There are reports that other candidates, including NYS Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and Caroline Kennedy, have also been interviewed by the governor about the Senate job.

When I asked Gillibrand whether she thinks she's on the governor's "short list", she said that's a question that only the governor could answer.